Disseminated tuberculosis complicating anti‐TNF‐α treatment

• Published in: International journal of clinical practice (Esher) Vol. 58; no. 11; pp. 1052 - 1055
• Main Authors: Dimakou, K., Papaioannides, D., Latsi, P., Katsimboula, S., Korantzopoulos, P., Orphanidou, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK; Malden, USA Blackwell Science Ltd 01.11.2004; Blackwell; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antirheumatic Agents; anti‐TNF‐α treatment; Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Case studies; Contraindications; Drug therapy; Female; General aspects; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Infliximab; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Miliary tuberculosis; Opportunistic Infections - complications; Opportunistic Infections - diagnostic imaging; Rheumatoid arthritis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections; Tuberculosis, Miliary - complications; Tuberculosis, Miliary - diagnostic imaging; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - complications; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - diagnostic imaging; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - antagonists & inhibitors; Infection; Medicine; Treatment; Tuberculosis; Bacteriosis; Complication; Mycobacterial infection; Disseminated; Tumor necrosis factor α
• ISSN: 1368-5031; 1742-1241
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2004.00061.x

Summary An unusually large number of cases of tuberculosis, often of miliary or disseminated form, have been reported in patients receiving infliximab therapy for rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's disease. We describe a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who was treated with infliximab and became systemically ill with Mycobacterium tuberculosis‐disseminated infection. Patients who are candidates for treatment with tumour necrosis factor‐alfa inhibitors should be evaluated for the presence of latent or active M. tuberculosis infection.